RM-2 radon detector

Facility:	Radon measurement
Staff:	Dr. Quentin Crowley
Location	Trinity Centre for the Environment Laboratory
Instrument:	The RM-2 Radon detector is designed for in situ rapid and accurate analysis of radon (222Rn) in soil gas and therefore applies to radon risk mapping and assessment of radon content in soils. It can be used as well for various applications such as uranium exploration, assessment of radon at uranium mines and uranium tailings, geochemical mapping and identification of lithological boundaries, locating of faults and fracture zones, radon measurement at oil-fields, and predictions of earthquake and volcanic eruptions.
Samples:	Gas samples
Additional information:	The RM-2 consists of a set of fifteen ionization chambers IK-250, the reader ERM-3 and a soil-gas sampling set. Samples of soil gas are collected through hollow steel rods using a plastic large-volume syringe and transferred to evacuated ionization chambers. To eliminate thoron, ionization chambers with soil-gas samples are measured with a specific time delay of 15 minutes after sampling. Alpha radiation of radon in the soil-gas sample gives rise to an ionization current in the ionization chamber, which is measured within 120 s. The pre-programmed, fully automatic reader ERM-3, with installed calibration constant, displays the concentration of radon in units of volume activity (kBq/m3). Estimates of thoron are possible.
Requirements:	Training is required before use.